All you need to know about rest day in cricket

The Sri Lanka national cricket team will host New Zealand in a two-match Test series starting on Wednesday, September 18.

As per the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test 2024 schedule, both matches will be played at the Galle International Stadium.

The upcoming Sri Lanka vs New Zealand two-match Test series is part of the ongoing World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.

With three wins and as many losses, the New Zealand national cricket team is currently placed third in the WTC 2023-25 standings. 

Hosts Sri Lanka have registered three victories and four defeats in the ongoing World Test Championship. They are currently placed fifth in the WTC standings.

Apart from the importance of the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Tests 2024 due to the WTC final qualification, fans are excited about reviving rest day in cricket, which is considered to be a rare occurrence in the sport.

The first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand will include a rest day and will be played across six days. 

The Sri Lanka vs New Zealand first Test will start on September 18 and could run till September 23 in Galle.

Here’s all you need to know about what is a rest day in cricket.

What is rest day in cricket

Rest day in cricket refers to a whole day where there is no action during a first-class cricket match or Test match.

Previously, a rest day in cricket was previously staged between the third and fourth day's play in a Test. In England, a rest day in cricket was earlier observed on Sundays. However, it is longer in use in modern-day cricket.

Rest days in cricket were regular commodities in the longest format in the 20th century. Several first-class matches in England were played across six days and often included a rest day without any play on a Sunday.

The upcoming Sri Lanka vs New Zealand first Test will have a rest day due to the Sri Lankan presidential election on September 21.

The last Test match that featured a rest day was played between hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Dhaka in 2008. It included a rest day due to a parliamentary election on December 29.

Under the leadership of Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka won the first Test of the two-match series by 107 runs in Mirpur.

Photo credit: Imago